The Zhitong Finance App learned that CMB International released a research report stating that it maintains the “buy” rating for Ricoh Bio-B (02179). It is expected that its COVID-19 vaccine, RecoV, will be approved by EUA in 2023, and that the shingles vaccine will be submitted to BLA in 2024, with a target price of HK$38.86. The company's COVID-19 recombinant protein vaccine, the RECOV vaccine, showed excellent immunogenicity and good safety in a head-to-head sequential immunization phase II trial with the Pfizer mRNA vaccine.

According to the report, the neutralizing antibody titer and neutralizing antibody positive conversion rate induced by RecoV for the prototype strain and omicron ba.2 and bA.5 were both significantly higher than the Pfizer mRNA vaccine, and were statistically significant. The RecoV vaccine also showed excellent and extensive cross-protective effects. The neutralizing antibody titers for Omicron Ba. 2 and BA.5 induced by RecoV decreased only about 1.4 times and 1.8 times, respectively, compared to the prototype strain. According to previous research reports, the neutralizing antibody titers of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine against Omicron Ba.2 and BA.4/5 decreased 7 times and 21 times compared to the prototype strain after homology was strengthened.

Furthermore, the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine, a novel adjuvant from Ricoh, was approved for clinical use in the Philippines. The company will conduct a head-to-head trial of GSK's shingles vaccine in this clinical trial to evaluate its safety and immunogenicity. This clinical trial expanded the number of people suitable for vaccination from those aged 50 and over to those over 40 for the GSK vaccine, further expanding the potential market space for the vaccine.